Cut Crime With Improved Criminal Justice Systems

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

March 10, 1993

I find it difficult to understand the numerous attempts being made to put more police on the streets. All these endeavors and resources are bing misdirected.

Our efforts would be much more highly rewarded if that money were used to enhance our penal and our judicial systems. Criminals are being released in a fraction of the time to which they are sentenced. The rate of recidivism is enormous. The police are merely escorting criminals through a revolving door. No wonder their morale is low. No wonder our crime rate is so high!

If, however, our penal facilities were enhanced, and criminals served their full sentences, there would be fewer criminals at large, less crime, and less need for additional police.

The functions of our judicial system are to punish the offender and to take the criminals off the streets. Neither of these objectives is being met. Our prisoners are housed, fed and treated far better than are the members of our armed forces. I applaud President Clinton`s recommendation that selected criminals be imprisoned in boot camps, housed in barracks and properly guarded. That would leave the existing fortress prisons for the violent criminals to serve their complete sentences, reduce crime and reduce or eliminate the need for more police.